Playing for Others

Jack Eiselt: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:40:15 +0000

Maggie Keener: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:39:30 +0000

Hi Journey Group!!

I hope you are all doing well and had a great Thanksgiving. Well, my blog this month is about leadership. When you think of someone as a leader, what are they like? Generally outspoken and charismatic is what comes into my mind. Sometimes I do not recognize those who aren’t always over the top an outgoing as a leader. Through PFO I have realized that leading is not always with word but also with actions.
Leaders are accountable and take the initiative. Through Playing For Others I have become more accountable. We are required to meet deadlines, make plans and stay on top of our hectic in-boxes. Also, leaders go out and do what they put their mind to. Leaders do not wait on others to do things for them, they do it themselves. This helps me to be more independent and focus on important goals.
In PFO there are many, many great leaders. As we journey trough our time in PFO it transforms our leadership skills. I have noticed many changes in my leadership character. I am more outgoing and speak what is on my mind. In a nice way of course! In this coming year I would like help others realize that they too can be a leader. You don’t have to be the class president or the captain of the football team. But, to be a leader you stand up for what you believe and never back down.
Thank you all again for donating on the web site. I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Best wishes,
Maggie

Derek Fulton: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:37:30 +0000

Greetings Journey Group,
It is I, Derek Fulton. Good evening. This month I would like to write to you all about the importance of leadership in Playing for Others. In PFO we are taught that aspects of being a leader include accountability, initiative, and responsibility. As a teen leadership organization, it is very important that we display these traits to be exemplar teens in the community. As leadership plays a very important role in the organization, PFO has a teen leadership committee, which I aspire to be apart of in the upcoming year. One of the teens from the organization who I think encompasses the true ideals of being a leader is Hannah Bridges. Hannah is always responsible for her work and also just a fun teen to be around, which is important because being a leader does not simply mean one with superiority. A true leader gains their support through friendship and recognizing the skills other people have. In this way, a leader can help guide a group to work together efficiently, and in the end create the most successful outcome. Well that’s leadership for you! Happy holidays everyone.

Lovelovelovelove,
-Derek “Dare Bear” Fulton.

Margaret Bryant: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:36:32 +0000

Hey Journey Group!
I hope you’re having a lovely December thus far! As per usual, Playing For Others is having a busy month! This month I want to talk to you a little bit about the leadership portion of PFO. As you may know, I serve on the Teen Executive Committee. There is also a group of committee chairs. Combined, we make up the Teen Board. And yet, teen leadership is not exclusively applicable to the co-presidents, teen execs, and committee chairs. In Playing For Others, everyone is a leader in some way. You don’t have to hold a position to be proactive, engaged, or a role-model. Part of being a good leader is taking initiative and setting an example, not possessing a flashy title. Personally, I think that is one of the best parts of PFO. Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student. One person who I really admire as a leader is Emily Barker. Emily was a part of the Photography Committee last year when I was a co-chair. This year, she is one of the chairs for the Winter Ball Committee. She is incredibly supportive, hard-working, and empowers everyone she can. I really admire the impact she has as a leader and as a person. Thank you all for checking in on my blog this month! As always, I cannot explain how much your support means to me. Having you on my journey during my last year of Playing For Others has given me an attitude of gratitude. Talk to you soon and have a happy holiday!
Love & Gratitude
Mags

Dominic Balconi: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:34:45 +0000

Time for my December Blog. This month I’m talking about how PFO has taught and given me leadership skills. Accountability and responsibility are very important in PFO, because it helps the whole organization pull together. I also admire many teens as leaders that are in PFO. My main idolized teen is Daniel Morrice, the senior teen vice president in PFO. I really think thats he’s a good leader because he is in an important position in the organization and helps it keep up its smooth sailing. I feel that I have showed that I am learning responsibility and gaining leadership skills. I find this very important because next year I will be in high school and those skills are needed there. I am also the youngest teen in the entire PFO organization and am glad to be learning useful skills. So what I have learned from my experience in PFO is that leadership is very important in many environments, especially school.

Thanks for reading,
Dominic Balconi

PS- I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Years Holiday

Lauren Lofgren: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:33:00 +0000

Hello Journey Group!
Wow I can’t believe that this 2011 year is almost over! This year has certainly been a life changing one for me! Thanks to Playing for Others I have continued to gain a wonderful new family! I hope to maintain these friends for years after I graduate!
Also, from my experience in Playing for Others this year, I have found myself become more accountable, organized, and confident. It is simply amazing to see what a group of teens can achieve through perseverance, responsibility, and organization. In addition, I certainly believe that I have gained more leadership qualities from Playing for Others this year as well. Maybe it is because I am finally a senior? I feel the need to be a leader even more than I ever have felt in previous years. This is my second year in Playing for Others so I have become more comfortable and confident with everything PFO has to offer. Not only have I become empowered to lead but I have also seen the power of leadership grow in everyone.
Leadership is defined as an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction. Playing for Others has certainly helped to guide my life in a positive direction!
Out of all the teens in Playing for Others I must say that I am most impressed this year with Miss Molly Grubbs. Whenever I see Molly she always has a bright joyful smile on her face that is one quality I love about her! Last year I was in the costume committee and Molly was one of the committee chars who helped to lead the committee throughout the year. That in itself had to be a challenging task. Now this year, I admire Molly for helping stage-manage and direct the recent Senior Show. The show was absolutely amazing and I certainly need to thank Molly for all of her hard work!
I strive to follow the following quote. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~John Quincy Adams
Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Leah Whitehead: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:32:11 +0000

Lonnell Sherman: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:31:11 +0000

Mary Bryan: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:16 +0000

Happy Holidays!

Hey journey group! It’s been an amazing month in Playing for Others, with so many things events! This month’s blog is about leadership. Leadership training is one of the big three components of PFO. This year, I am on the Teen Executive committee. This is a leadership committee that does things like work with alumni, plan events, contact corporate sponsors, and handle social media. I’ve learned a lot from being on Teen Exec about what a leader really is. A leader is someone who can both step up and head the group but also take a back seat and empower someone else to step up. Leaders take initiative and engage others to as well. They also focus on effective communication skills and being accountable with what they take on. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a leader this year in PFO, but I know there’s much I need to work on as well. I tend to take the back seat in discussions and let other people discuss their ideas rather then bring up my own, but I know PFO is a place where my ideas will be respected and considered no matter what, which encourages me to take that opportunity to speak up. I can’t wait to see the leadership that develops this year and all the other fun left in store. Thanks for reading!

Kelly Fitzgerald: December

savvy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:29:19 +0000

Hey Journey Group!
Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog this month, I cannot express my gratitude enough!
This month I want to talk to you all about leadership in PFO! During our retreat, every session was led by two playing for others teens that did everything to prepare for it on their own with a few side notes from Jen (the executive director). Each teen strives to be the best leader they can be by helping and reaching out to others, taking on responsibility and holding themselves accountable for all of their actions.
This year in PFO I want to be the best leader I can be and work as hard as I can to achieve all of my goals. I hope that one day people will look to me to find out what it means to be a leader and how they can exceed expectations.
Thanks so much for all who have donated to help me reach my goal of $300! I am only $50 away! For those who have not donated feel free to donate online at www.playingforothers.org or send a check! Remember, having a journey group is not just about having a fundraiser but also a friendrasier! Tell a friend about the amazing organization of Playing For Others!

Happy Holidays!